Saturday, May 30, 2009

Also a Poet

Dear Blogger friends,

Thank you so much for your expressions of sympathy. They mean lot to me.

Otto and I have always participated in many of each other's activities. I have gone to technical conferences with Otto, once or twice chaired sessions where my knowledge was up to the challenge, drawn circuit diagrams, even shared a patent. Otto and I went to writer's groups together because he wanted to go with me and share my interests. For a poetry workshop, Otto wrote the following:


Stonehenge
The sun orb at its noon zenith
approaching midsummer
casts my shrunken shadow around my feet.
It stretches out like a snake emerging
from his hole
then races east and south
as the sun swings low and north
until at sunset my shadow is infinitely long.

It sleeps fitfully
then jumps to life in the early midsummer morn.
Stonehenge points to the sun's
most northern emergence.

We mark each high point with such monuments:
greatest weight lifted
farthest discus thrown
largest pumpkin grown
valedictorian
highest flood
largest tree.

We mark the onset of anxiety
that the sun will desert us quickly -
shorter days, longer noon shadows,
cooler nights, threat of winter.

We are anxious about the ebb,
the coming cold, slipping skills,
a loved one leaving.

What enchantment can keep this warmth with me?

April 2005, Otto J. M. Smith

16 comments:

Understanding Alice said...

beautiful :)

Linda Jacobs said...

Wow! What a beautiful poem! And sad, too!

Hope you are doing okay. I can't even imagine what you are going through.

Sending waves of strength your way!

Rinkly Rimes said...

He wrote about being left, and then he was the one who went! That makes it all so much more meaningful. And the poetry is beautiful. How lucky you were to find such a soul-mate.

Marianne said...

A true bard at heart, eh?
Beautiful.

Marian Dean said...

So lovely to see you here again Phyllis. Otto wore so many wonderful hats... he was a poet too. This is lovely; so meaningful. Brings out the feel and spirit of Stonhenge, it is indeed a wonderful place.
When my first husband of 32 years died, I thought I would never smile again. Gradually grief eases you back into carrying on.
With love
Granny

Gemma Wiseman said...

Simply a beautiful reflection on the lingering meaning of the soul of the seasons.

Maggie May said...

Stonehenge...... a lovely place.
A beautiful poignant poem.

I do hope you are getting on fine. Often think about you and hope you are managing.I know you are a strong lady.

Janie said...

I hear his scientist's voice in the poem. His thoughts on time passing, on love and loss, are simply beautiful.
I hope you are finding your way through the long shadows.

linda may said...

G'Day, Thinking of you mate.
Love Linda

gautami tripathy said...

This is touching poem..

Hope you are well..

mrsnesbitt said...

Lovely Phylis what a source of comfort and memory!
Hugs
Denise xxx

Tumblewords: said...

This lovely poem reaches deep into the heart and the time of soul. I've been thinking about you and how much you are loved for your wisdom, your strength and your inspiration which you share with your readers. My thoughts are with you.

Tammie Lee said...

A natural poet and
this is an incredibly beautiful poem!
How lovely that he took such interests in what you loved.
Holding you in my heart.

b+ (Retire In Style Blog) said...

So good to see you here. I know you are just putting one foot in front of the other. Be well.

b

Jinksy said...

This is an extrememly relevant poem at present. I still have a Time Team program recorded recently, which highlighted six years work at the site, to finally decipher its original purpose. They concluded the stones were always intended as recepticles for departed souls - Stonehenge was the place of the ancestors.

Unknown said...

I think of you daily! I am praying. Love, Becky